Dressmaker&#39;s device



3 p 1967 s. A. MARCUS 3,343,901

DRESSMAKERS DEVICE Filed 001;. 21, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l 19 M UM SusanA. Mar/"012s ATTORNEY Sept. 26, 1967 s. A. MARCUS DRESSMAKER'SDEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 21, 1965 it r'l lzvmwrag SizsanA.Marcus BY DW ATTORNEY 3 ,3 43,901 Patented Sept..26, 1967 3,343,901DRESSMAKERS DEVICE Susan A. Marcus, Brackenville Road, Hockessin, Del.19707 Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 499,704 Claims. (Cl. 312235) Thisinvention relates to a dressmakers device. More particularly, it relatesto a device that is used in measuring and marking hems for dresses.

There have been quite a number of devices described for use bydressmakers to make the task of marking hem lines of dresses easier.These devices include movable scissors, rotating platforms and chalkmarking devices, among others. However, the devices of the prior artusually place either the dressmaker or the person being fitted intouncomfortable positions, and there has been a longfelt need for a devicethat is convenient to the dressmaker doing the fitting and that alsoalldws the person being fitted to stand securely while the fitting isbeing done.

Accordingly, an objective of this invention is the provision of adressmakers platform which allows the person being fitted to standstillwhile the hem line is being determined. A further aim is the provisionof a device which allows the dressmaker to circle the person beingfitted in a convenient and comfortable manner. A still further objectiveis the provision of a device which contains storage means fordressmakers tools. A still further purpose is the provision of a deviceof simple, effective design containing a retractable seat for thefitter. These and other goals will appear hereinafter.

The objectives of this invention are accomplished by the provision of aplatform that contains tiers and contains one tier which is revolvable,the others remaining stationary. The device of this invention affords aslightly elevated platform which is stationary and on which the personbeing fitted stands. To reach this elevated platform there is a step upto the platform which step is stationary. Located between'the said stepand the stationary top platform, which is the top tier, is a revolvingmember which contains a retractable seat for the fitter. This is inelfecta third tier or level and is between the step and the topplatform.

" In using the device the person being fitted merely steps 'up to thetop tier and stands there. The fitter pulls out the retractable seat andhaving been seated on it, the fitter merely pushes herself around theperson being fitted with a foot or her feet and in going around thefitter, of course, pins or sets the hem line where desired. Thisinvention will be further understood by reference to the description andthe" figures below all of which is given for illustrative purposes onlyand is not lirnitative.

In the figures:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation showing a person being fitted and thedressmaker, both in the operative position on the device of thisinvention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective of certain parts of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the device of this invention;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 are small sectional views showing different types ofbearings that may be used.

As can be seen in FIGURE 1 the person 10 being fitted is on the top tier11, a stationary platform, of the device 12 of this invention. Seated onthe support 13 is the fitter 14. The arrow 15 shows the direction inwhich the fitter is moving as she pushe herself around the person 10. As

she does so, the central element 16 rotates. The bottom section 17,which contains drawer 18, is stationary resting on floor 18 andpresenting step 19 to afford a convenient way for the person 10 to getto platform 11. The bottom section 17 containing step 19 need not be acomplete circle as shown in the drawings and may be only a part of thecircle or even a square-shaped step that is integral with the device ofthis invention or is a separate step. However, it is preferred that thebottom member 17 be a complete circle around the device, because itaffords a step down for person 10 in whatever direction she wishes tostep from the platform 11.

In FIGURE 2 various parts are shown with certain connecting members.Thus, platform 11 is shown about to receive a locking means 20 whichcontains a disk 21 and a shaft 22. As can be seen in FIGURE 5 the disk21 is locked into platform 11 by screws 23. Shaft 22 is secured to step9 by means of a bolt and lock nut washer 24 whichbears on the underneathside of stationary step 9. The shaft 22 passes through a hole 25 in thetop 26 and a similar hole in bottom 26a of central member 16. Shaft 22also passes through cylinder 27, the bottom end of which rests on theinner portion 28 of step 9. As shown in FIGURE 5 the top of cylinder 27is in contact with the underneath surface of disk 21. Located on thebottom side of inner member 16 or resting on step 9 is a bearing 29, andlocated on the top side of inner member 16 is asimila-r bearing 30. Asexplained below each of these hearings have co-acting counterparts.

The bottom plan view shown in FIGURE 3 shows the lock nut arrangement24'which locks platform 11 and step 9 together. Also shown is the drawer18 with its pull-out knob 31 and the retractable seat 13 with itspull-out knob 32.

FIGURE 4 shows in top plan these various elements with the dotted linesindicating the position of the various elements described above. Theretractable seat 13 is shown capable of being slid into central member16, there being guides 33 on either side to assure that the seat goes insmoothly and easily. These guides are fixed to the inner member 16 andwhen the fitter 14 pushes against the fioor, the sides ofv seat 13 willbear against these walls 33 and make inner member. 16 revolve. Alsoshown in FIGURE 4 are the walls or ribs 34 which act as guides for thedrawer 18.

These various elements are shown in assembled form in FIGURE 5 Asexplained, the.central member 16 has -a hole 25 in its top part 26 andhas a similar hole, not shown, in its bottom part 26a. Thus, thecylinder 27 will be resting with its bottom part in direct contact withthe step 9 and. with its top indirect contact with the underneath sideofdisk 21. It will also further be understood that the inside diametersof the holes in central section 16 correspond closely to the diameter ofcylinder 27. Thus, central section 16 is fixed in place since it can notbe moved horizontally in any direction for its top and its bottom willbear up against cylinder 27 which is fixed, as explained. Nor canrevolvable central element 16 be raised or lowered, for top 11 and step9 prevent such movements, respectively. Thus, the device of thisinvention is very sturdy. Yet, it is portable and can be easily movedfrom one place to another. If desired, the device can be equipped withspring-loaded casters, but the mobility of the device without them isvery good. Further, it

rests very firmly on the floor and a person can step very easily andquickly from the floor to step 9 and from there to the top platform 11and reverse these movements quickly in safety. The person being fittedcan merely stand on platform 11 as though she were standing on thefloor.

In FIGURE 5 there are also shown at 35 one of the ways in which therevolving of central element 16 can be effected. This comprises a pairof Teflon rings. Certain of these were shown in FIGURE 2 as elements 29and 30. One ring is positioned in the underneath side of stationaryplatform 11 and the other is positioned in the top side of centralelement 16. Similarly, another ring is positioned at 35a in the top sideof step 9 and a fourth ring is positioned in the underneath side ofcentral element 16. The respective sets of rings are, of course,aligned. The material Teflon (this being the trademark of the E. I. duPont de Nemours & Company) is a material which has a very lowcoefiicient of friction, being a fluorocarbon polymer known aspoly(tetrafluoroethylene). Other materials may be used including otherfluorocarbon polymers including tetrafluoroethylene copolymers andfiuorinated hydrocarbon polymers. Further, other bearings may be usedincluding metal ball bearings and other synthetic plastics such asnylon, polyformaldehyde, polypropylene, among others. It is preferred touse the Teflon bearing since it has a long life and the surfaces moveover each other very easily. In FIGURE 6 there is an enlarged viewshowing cross-sections of two devices 36 and 37 in bearing relationship.In FIGURE 7 there is shown a similar bearing having a slightly differentcut to allow for a greater surface cont-act, the bearings beingindicated as bearings 38 and 39, while in FIGURE 8 a still furtherbearing arrangement is shown using bearings 40 and 41 which are inarcuate contact.

If desired the fitter can use any one of a number of measuring devices.One is shown in FIGURE 1 as element 42. It consists of a base 43 with aperpendicular rule 44 on which is adjustably mounted clamp 45. Thefitter merely adjusts the clamp to the desired height, inserts thefabric, closes the clamp and then pins. Moving to the next location thatis to be pinned, the fitter merely repeats the operation until shecompletes the pinning.

The various platforms, steps, walls and the like may be prepared from alarge variety of materials, including wood, Masonite, fiber board andplastics. Whatever their composition, the various elements are readilyconstructed and quickly assembled. With their sturdy nature, the deviceof this invention has a long life and it affords safety to the users,the person being fitted and the fitter.

While the invention has been disclosed herein in connection with certainembodiments and certain structural and procedural details, it is clearthat changes, modifications or equivalents can be used by those skilledin the art; accordingly, such changes within the principles of theinvention are intended to be included within the scope of the claimsbelow.

I claim:

1. A support comprising a top stationary platform; a bottom stationaryplatform extending substantially beyond the outer edge of said topplatform and thereby affording a step to the said top platform; and arevolvable member located between the said top and bottom Platforms andcontaining a platform which is revolvable with said member.

2. A support in accordance with claim 1 in which the said revolvablemember moves in a horizontal circle.

3. A support in accordance with claim 1 in which said revolvableplatform comprises a seat slidably mounted on the said revolvablemember.

4. A support in accordance with claim 1 in which said bottom platformcontains a drawer.

5. A support in accordance with claim 1 which contains a bearing betweenthe top platform and the revolving member and a bearing between thebottom platform and the revolving member.

6. A support in accordance with claim 5 in which said bearings comprisepoly(tetrafluoroethy1ene).

7. A support comprising a bottom, stationary platform adapted to rest onthe floor; resting on the top surface of said platform and centrallydisposed thereon a hollow upright stationary support; on the top surfaceof said upright support atop, stationary platform which has a shapecom-parable to that of said bottom platform but is substantially smallerin width, whereby said bottom platform affords a step to said topplatform; means for connecting said top platform to said bottom platformto hold them in fixed realtionship; and in between said top and saidbottom platform a revolvable member containing a platform that revolveswith said member.

8. A support in accordance with claim 7 in which said connecting meanscomprises a shaft positioned inside said hollow upright and fixed to thetop platform and fixed to the bottom platform.

9. A support in accordance with claim 7 in which said revolvableplatform is slidably mounted, in drawer fashion, on said revolvablemember.

10. A support in accordance with claim 7 which contains bearings betweensaid top platform and said revolvable member and between said bottomplatform and said revolvable member.

References Cited CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner.

1. A SUPPORT COMPRISING A TOP STATIONARY PLATFORM; A BOTTOM STATIONARYPLATFORM EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY BEYOND THE OUTER EDGE OF SAID TOPPLATFORM AND THEREBY AFFORDING A STEP TO THE SAID TOP PLATFORM; ANDREVOLVABLE MEMBER LOCATED BETWEEN THE SAID TOP AND BOTTOM PLAT-